The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-26
our little game in comfortably. When b.

whole thing, and I'm here to do it."
"And let somebody else take the re-
sponsibiity--with the percentage--unless
you've also felt 1t your duty to warn Mott
too" said Sleight with sneer.
"You only dare say that to me, Sleight,"
said Renshaw quietly, 'because you have
in that drawer an equal evidence OF my
folly and my confidence; but II you are
wise you will not presume too far on
either. Let us see how we stand.
| Through the yarn Of drunken captain
and mutinous sailor you became aware
of an unclaimed shipment OF treasure con-
ceaed in an unknown ship that entered
this harbor. You are enabled, through
me, to corroborate some facts and identify
the ship. You proposed to me, as spec
ulation, to identify the treasure if possible
before you purchased the ship. accept
ed the offer without consideration; on
consideration | now decline it, but with
out prejudice or loss to any one but my
self. AS TO your insinuaton | need not
remind you that my presence here today
refutes it. would NOE require your per-
mission to make much better bargain
with good natured fool like Mott than l
could with you. Or if did not care for
the business could have warned the
| girl"-
"The girl-what girlY"
Renshaw bit his lip, but answered
| boldly "rhe old mans daughter-a poor
girl-whom this act would rob as well as
her father"
Sleght looked at his companion atten-
| lively. "You might have said so ut first,
and let up on this campmeetin' exhorta-
ton. Well then-admitting you've got
the old man and the young girl on the
same string, and that you've played it
pretty low down in the short time you've
been there-I suppose, Dick Renshaw,
I've got to see your bluff. Well, how
much is it, What's the figure you and
she have settled on?"
For an instant Mr.. Sleight was in phys
ical danger. But before he had finished
speaking Renshaw's quick sense Of the
ludicrous had so far overcome his first in
dignation as to enable him even to admire
the perfect moral insensibility of his COM
panion. AS he rose and walked towards
the door, he half wondered that he had
ever treated the affair seriously. With
smile he replied:
"Far from blufflng, Sleight, I am
throwing my cards on the table. Con-
slider that I've passed out. Let some
other man take my hand. Rake down
the pot if you like, old man; leave for
Sacramento tonight. Adios."
When the door had closed behind him
Nh Sleight summoned his clerk.
SIS that petition for grading Pontiac
street ready?'
'rve seen the largest property holders,
sir; they're only waiting for you to sign
first" Mr. Sleight paused and then af-
fixed his signature to the paper his clerk
laid before him. "Get the other names
and send it up at once"
eff Mr.. Mott doesn't sign it, sirP''
''No matter He will be assessed all
the same" Mr.. Sleight took up his hat
''The Lascar seaman that was here the
other day has been wanting to see you, sir.
said you were busy"
Mr. Sleight put down his hat. "Send
him up"
Nevertheless Mr.. Sleight sat down and
at once distracted himself 80 completely
rs to be apparently in utter oblivion of
the man who entered. He was 1.-the and
Indian looking; bearing in dress and man
ner the careless SLOUGH without the easy
frankness of u sailor.
alIty n,-.l,t Lob
ing up.
~ was only wantin' to know eff you had
any news for me, boss"
"News?" echoed Sleight as if absently;
"news of whatW
"That little matter of the Pontiac we
with an uneasy servility in the whites of
his teeth and eyes.
"Oh," said Sleight "that's played out.
It's u regular fraud. It's an old fore
castle yarn, my man, that you can't reel
off in the cabin"
The sailors face darkened.
"The man who was looking into it has
thrown the whole thing up. l tell you
it's played outr' repeated Sleight, with
out raising his head
cts true, boss-every word, " said the
Lascar, with an appealing insinuation
that seemed to struggle hard with savage
earncstness. 'You can swear me, boss;
wouldn't lie to gentleman like you.
Your man hasn't half looked, or else--it
must be there, or
CHATS just it," said Sleight slowly;
"who's to know that your friends haven't
been there already-that seems to have
been your style"
"But no one knew it but me, until
told you, swear to God. amt lying,
boss, and amt drunk. Say--dont give
it up boss. That man OF yours likely
don't believe it, because he don't know
anything about it, do could find it,"
A silence followed. Mr.. Sleight re-
NAMED completely absorbed in his papers
for some moments. Then glancing at the
Lascar, he took his pen, wrote a hurried
note, folded it, addressed it, and, holding
it between his fingers, leaned back in his
chair.
eff you choose to take this note to my
l Il